Ability to Pay

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State Statute Description/Statute Name Statutory language Level of offense Definition of ability to pay Timeline Burden of proof Method of determination Mandatory Remedies if unable to pay
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Arizona Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-804.01(B)(2) Reimbursement of Incarceration Costs; Misdemeanors B. The court may determine the amount of incarceration costs to be paid based on the following factors:2. The person's ability to pay part or all of the incarceration costs. Misdemeanor Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for No

A lower cost based upon the defendant's ability to pay.

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Arizona Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-914(E)(2) Intensive probation; evaluation; sentence; criteria; limit; conditions
Paying restitution and probation fees of not less than seventy-five dollars unless, after determining the inability of the offender to pay the fee, the court assesses a lesser fee. Probation
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fees shall be deposited in the adult probation services fund established by § 12-267. Any amount assessed pursuant to this paragraph shall be used to supplement monies used for the salaries of adult probation and surveillance officers and for support of programs and services of the superior court adult probation departments.
All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for No

Lower restitution or fee based upon the defendant's ability to pay.

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Arizona Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-810(E) Consequences of nonpayment of fines, surcharges, fees, assessments, restitution or incarceration costs

(E)If the court finds that the defendant has wilfully failed to pay a fine, a surcharge, a fee, an assessment, restitution or incarceration costs or finds that the defendant has

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intentionally refused to make a good faith effort to obtain the monies required for the payment, the court shall find that the default constitutes contempt and may do any of the following:

1. Order the defendant incarcerated in the county jail until the fine, surcharge, fee, assessment, restitution or incarceration costs, or a specified part of the fine, surcharge, fee, assessment, restitution or incarceration costs, is paid.

2. Refer the defendant for revocation of probation, parole or community supervision as authorized by law.

3. Enter an order pursuant to section 13-812. The levy or execution for the collection of a fine, a surcharge, a fee, an assessment, restitution or incarceration costs does not discharge a defendant who is incarcerated for nonpayment of the fine, surcharge, fee, assessment, restitution or incarceration costs until the amount of the fine, surcharge, fee, assessment, restitution or incarceration costs is collected.

4. Order the defendant to perform community restitution.

All Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for No

Modified payment arrangements

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Arizona Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 13-824(A) Community restitution in lieu off monetary obligation

A. Notwithstanding any other law, if a monetary obligation is imposed on a defendant at sentencing and the court finds the defendant is unable to pay all or part of the monetary obligation, the

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court may order the defendant to perform community restitution in lieu of the payment for all or part of the monetary obligation. The amount of community restitution shall be equivalent to the amount of the monetary obligation by crediting any service performed at a rate of ten dollars per hour.

All Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for No

Community Restitution

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Arizona Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 12-116.01(F) Surcharges; remittance reports; fund deposits

The judge may waive all or part of the civil penalty, fine, forfeiture and surcharge, except for mandatory civil penalties and fines, the payment of which would work a hardship

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on the persons convicted or adjudicated or on their immediate families. If a fine or civil penalty is mandatory, the judge may waive only all or part of the surcharges prescribed by subsections A, B and C of this section and § 12-116.02. If a fine or civil penalty is not mandatory and if a portion of the civil penalty, fine, forfeiture and surcharge is waived or suspended, the amount assessed must be divided according to the proportion that the civil penalty, fine, bail or bond and the surcharge represent of the total amount due.

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A lower cost fine or fee based upon the defendant's ability to pay.

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Arkansas Ark. Code Ann. § 5-4-205(e)(2);(f)(3) Restitution

(e)(2)In determining the method of payment, the court shall take into account: (A) The financial resources of the defendant and the burden that payment of restitution will impose with regard

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to another obligation of the defendant; (B) The ability of the defendant to pay restitution on an installment basis or on another condition to be fixed by the court; and (C) The rehabilitative effect on the defendant of the payment of restitution and the method of payment....(f) (3) In determining whether to revoke probation or conditional release, the court or releasing authority shall consider: (A) The defendant's employment status; (B) The defendant's earning ability; (C) The defendant's financial resources; (D) The willfulness of the defendant's failure to pay; and (E) Any other special circumstances that may have a bearing on the defendant's ability to pay.

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"The financial resources of the defendant and the burden that payment of restitution will impose with regard to another obligation of the defendant; The ability of the defendant to pay

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restitution on an installment basis or on another condition to be fixed by the court."

Not provided for Not provided for Determined by judge after hearing Yes Not provided for
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Arkansas Ark. Const. Art. 2, § 9 Excessive Bail or Punishment Prohibited -- Witness -- Detention

Excessive bail shall not be required; nor shall excessive fines be imposed; nor shall cruel or unusual punishments be inflicted; nor witnesses be unreasonably detained.

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Fines cannot be "excessive".

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes Not provided for
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Arkansas Ark. Code Ann. § 5-4-303(f) Conditions of Suspension or Probation

(1) If the court suspends imposition of sentence on a defendant or places him or her on probation conditioned upon his or her making restitution under subdivision (c)(6) of this section,

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the court, by concurrence of the victim, defendant, and the prosecuting authority, shall determine the amount to be paid as restitution. (2) After considering the assets, financial condition, and occupation of the defendant, the court shall further determine: (A) Whether restitution shall be total or partial; (B) The amounts to be paid if by periodic payments; and (C) If a personal service is contemplated, the reasonable value and rate of compensation for the personal service rendered to the victim.

All Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for Yes Not provided for
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Arkansas Ark. Code Ann. § 16-93-104(b)-(d) Supervision Fee -- Direct Payment by Offender -- Failure to Pay

(b) (1) When an offender on probation defaults in the payment of supervision fees or any installment thereof, the court may require the offender to show cause why he or

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she would not be imprisoned for nonpayment. (2) The offender shall not be imprisoned if the offender is financially unable to make the payments and states so to the court in writing, under oath, and the court so finds. (3) Unless the offender shows that his or her default was not attributable to a purposeful refusal to obey the sentence of the court or to a failure on his or her part to make a good faith effort to obtain the funds required for payment, the court may order the defendant imprisoned until the payments are made. (4) If the court determines that the default in payment is not attributable to the causes specified in subdivision (b)(3) of this section, the court may enter an order allowing the offender additional time for payment, reducing the amount of each installment, or revoking the fees or the unpaid portion thereof in whole or in part. (c) (1) The offender on parole may be imprisoned for violation of parole if the offender is financially able to make the payments and if the payments are not made and the Parole Board so finds, subject to the limitations set out in this subsection. (2) The offender shall not be imprisoned if the offender is financially unable to make the payments and states so under oath to the Parole Board in writing, and the Parole Board so finds. (d) Court costs under § 16-10-305 shall be collected in full before any fees are collected under this section.

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"The offender is financially unable to make the payments."

Not provided for Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Determined by judge without hearing Yes

Additional Time, Reduced Payments, Revoke Fees.

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Arkansas Ark. Code Ann. § 5-65-114   Inability to Pay -- Alternative Public Service Work

If a court finds that a person against whom fines, fees, or court costs are levied for violating this chapter is financially unable to pay the fines, fees, or costs,

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the court shall order the person to perform public service work as the court determines is appropriate.

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"Financially unable to pay the fines, fees, or costs."

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes

Community Service.

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Arkansas Ark. Code Ann. § 5-4-303(g)(2)(B) Conditions of Suspension or Probation

The amount of the assessed attorney's fee shall be commensurate with the defendant's ability to pay.

All Not provided for Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Determined by judge without hearing Yes

Waiver/Reduction of Fee.

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Arkansas A.C.A. § 5-2-331 Cost of Mental Health Services, Examination, and Treatment of Defendant

Rules establishing reasonable charges for the cost of treatment or other mental health services under this section shall provide for waiving or postponing the collection of the charges based on:

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(A)  Clinical considerations; (B)  The defendant's inability to pay; or (C)  A court determination that the defendant is wholly or partly indigent and qualifies for the appointment of an attorney under § 16-87-213.

All Not provided for At enforcement of fine or fee Not provided for Administrative decision No Not provided for
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Arkansas A.C.A. § 16-13-704 Installment Payments -- Definition

(a) (1)  If the court concludes that the defendant has the ability to pay the fine, but that requiring the defendant to make immediate payment in full would cause a severe and

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undue hardship for the defendant and the defendant's dependents, the court may authorize payment of the fine by means of installment payments in accordance with this subchapter;  (d)  "Ability to pay" means that the resources of the defendant, including all available income and resources, are sufficient to pay the fine and provide the defendant and his or her dependents with a reasonable subsistence compatible with health and decency.

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"The resources of the defendant, including all available income and resources, are sufficient to pay the fine and provide the defendant and his or her dependents with a reasonable subsistence

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compatible with health and decency."

Before imposition of fine or fee Not provided for Not provided for No Not provided for
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Pennsylvania Pa. R. Crim. P. 706 Fines or Costs
(A) A court shall not commit the defendant to prison for failure to pay a fine or costs unless it appears after hearing that the defendant is financially able
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to pay the fine or costs. (B) When the court determines, after hearing, that the defendant is without the financial means to pay the fine or costs immediately or in a single remittance, the court may provide for payment of the fines or costs in such installments and over such period of time as it deems to be just and practicable, taking into account the financial resources of the defendant and the nature of the burden its payments will impose, as set forth in paragraph (D) below. (C) The court, in determining the amount and method of payment of a fine or costs shall, insofar as is just and practicable, consider the burden upon the defendant by reason of the defendant’s financial means, including the defendant’s ability to make restitution or reparations. (D) In cases in which the court has ordered payment of a fine or costs in installments, the defendant may request a rehearing on the payment schedule when the defendant is in default of a payment or when the defendant advises the court that such default is imminent. At such hearing, the burden shall be on the defendant to prove that his or her financial condition has deteriorated to the extent that the defendant is without the means to meet the payment schedule. Thereupon the court may extend or accelerate the payment schedule or leave it unaltered, as the court finds to be just and practicable under the circumstances of record. When there has been default and the court finds the defendant is not indigent, the court may impose imprisonment as provided by law for nonpayment.
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financial means to pay, taking account of financial resources and nature of burden

Not provided for Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Not provided for Yes

Installment Plans

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Pennsylvania 42 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 9726 Fine
The court shall not sentence a defendant to pay a fine unless it appears of record that:(1) the defendant is or will be able to pay the fine; and(2) the
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fine will not prevent the defendant from making restitution or reparation to the victim of the crime.(d) Financial resources.--In determining the amount and method of payment of a fine, the court shall take into account the financial resources of the defendant and the nature of the burden that its payment will impose.
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financial means to pay, taking account of financial resources and nature of burden

Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes

waiver of fine

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Pennsylvania 42 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 9730 Payment of Court Costs, Restitution, and Fines
If a defendant defaults in the payment of a fine, court costs or restitution after imposition of sentence, the issuing authority or a senior judge or senior magisterial district judge
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appointed by the president judge for the purposes of this section may conduct a hearing to determine whether the defendant is financially able to pay. . . If the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge determines that the defendant is without the financial means to pay the fine or costs immediately or in a single remittance, the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge may provide for payment in installments. In determining the appropriate installments, the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge shall consider the defendant's financial resources, the defendant's ability to make restitution and reparations and the nature of the burden the payment will impose on the defendant. If the defendant is in default of a payment or advises the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge that default is imminent, the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge may schedule a rehearing on the payment schedule. At the rehearing the defendant has the burden of proving changes of financial condition such that the defendant is without the means to meet the payment schedule. The issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge may extend or accelerate the schedule, leave it unaltered or sentence the defendant to a period of community service as the issuing authority, senior judge or senior magisterial district judge finds to be just and practicable under the circumstances.
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financial means to pay, taking account of financial resources and nature of burden

At enforcement of fine or fee Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Not provided for No

extension or acceleration of payment schedule; community service

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Pennsylvania 18 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 7508.1(b) Substance Abuse Education and Demand Reduction Fund.
Unless the court finds that undue hardship would result, a mandatory cost of $100, which shall be in addition to any other costs imposed pursuant to statutory authority, shall automatically
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be assessed on any individual convicted, adjudicated delinquent or granted Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition or any individual who pleads guilty or nolo contendere for a violation of the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L. 233, No. 64)1, known as The Controlled Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, or a violation of 75 Pa.C.S. § 3802 (relating to driving under influence of alcohol or controlled substance).
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not specified

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Pennsylvania 18 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 1106 Restitution for injuries to person or property
At the time of sentencing the court shall specify the amount and method of restitution. In determining the amount and method of restitution, the court: (i) Shall consider the extent
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of injury suffered by the victim, the victim's request for restitution as presented to the district attorney in accordance with paragraph (4) and such other matters as it deems appropriate. (ii) May order restitution in a lump sum, by monthly installments or according to such other schedule as it deems just. (iii) Shall not order incarceration of a defendant for failure to pay restitution if the failure results from the offender's inability to pay.
All Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Not provided for Yes

payment plan

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Pennsylvania 18 Pa. Stat. Ann. § 11.1102 Costs for offender supervision programs
1) For offenders under supervision of a county probation department or the board as of August 14, 1991, the fee shall automatically become a part of the supervision conditions as
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if the court or board had imposed it unless the court or board makes a finding that the offender is presently unable to pay.(2) The court or board may make a finding that the offender is unable to pay based on any of the following factors: (i) The offender has diligently attempted but has been unable to obtain employment that provides the offender sufficient income to make such payments. (ii) The offender is a student in a school, a college, a university or a course of vocational or technical training designed to fit the student for gainful employment. (iii) The offender has an employment handicap as determined by an examination acceptable to or ordered by the court or board. (iv) The offender's age prevents employment. (v) The offender is responsible for the support of dependents, and the payment of the assessment constitutes an undue hardship on the offender.(vi) Other extenuating circumstances as determined by the court or board.
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1) For offenders under supervision of a county probation department or the board as of August 14, 1991, the fee shall automatically become a part of the supervision conditions as

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if the court or board had imposed it unless the court or board makes a finding that the offender is presently unable to pay.(2) The court or board may make a finding that the offender is unable to pay based on any of the following factors: (i) The offender has diligently attempted but has been unable to obtain employment that provides the offender sufficient income to make such payments. (ii) The offender is a student in a school, a college, a university or a course of vocational or technical training designed to fit the student for gainful employment. (iii) The offender has an employment handicap as determined by an examination acceptable to or ordered by the court or board. (iv) The offender's age prevents employment. (v) The offender is responsible for the support of dependents, and the payment of the assessment constitutes an undue hardship on the offender.(vi) Other extenuating circumstances as determined by the court or board.

Not provided for Burden on defendant to show inability to pay Not provided for Yes Not provided for